typhoon...

so for all of you who keep up on the weather in Hong Kong - okay - so who does that? We had a leave 8 typhoon last night and today - it was a little scary. Please keep in mind that until this morning when I was talking to Brad - I had no idea what a typhoon was. But, it was a level 8 out of 10 and I did survive it! I will say the water was scary enough for me to look away. The hotel assured us that the windows were typhoon proof, but if something flying thru the air hit them, they might not be safe and to stay away. So, I did because there were things flying everywhere. I tried to get a good pix, but it just looked like nothing, so I stopped trying! We weren't allowed to leave the hotel before 1, so at one we packed up and headed to the office to try and get some work done. I have to say I am completely impressed with the work ethic of Hong Kong people - they were all headed into work after the warning was reduced to a level 3...amazing...I would have stayed at home...guess I need to work on that one. The streets look like after an OSU game...trash and stuff everywhere...it was gross...the city isn't the cleanest of them all, and add that level - not the best. So all in all, I survived my first typhoon - hope there isn't another one before we fly...or there isn't one while we are flying - pretty scary right Dan??? Hope it doesn't happen.

I just found out that Kathy, my mother-in-law had her knee surgery this past weekend - sorry I didn't call - I thought it was this upcoming weekend!! I hope that everything went well - I am thinking of you and praying for your quick recovery!

On another note, I miss home. I wish I was at home...I miss all the little things...the food, my family, my Brad, my friends, my little Gracyn, okay - so she is scott and heather's but she just makes me smile! Plus she learned to sit on her own and she looked so cute sitting there with us - can't wait till she gets a little bigger and she can talk with us too!

We are halfway thru the trip - well after today we will be and I am ready to head back home and meet up with Brad on vacation - can't wait love!!

Until another day! xoxoxoxoxoxo

arrived and safe

for those of you who are wondering - I arrived last night and am all safe here in hong kong! one word came to mind when i walked off the plane - HOT! it is SO hot and humid here, oh my - thank goodness for air conditioning!

the flight was great - 15 hours in one spot is always fun! everyone should really try it sometime! gives you a lot of time to think, sleep and get things done that typically you run out of time to do - aka read! I read a book, it was pretty good - great summer read - "the guy not taken" written by Jennifer W, who wrote "in her shoes". I did sleep a lot which was nice - probably most of the trip! It was something I think I needed...seems like life has been such a rush lately that it really was nice to have the time to just relax.

the crazy work week started this morning at 730 - on a slight little break right now - was getting a little tired and too many side bar conversations going on - so I am blogging - great use of time huh??? It is 4pm now - dinner with a vendor tonight and shopping before hand - looking forward to that - hope I don't come home with a new handbag - will keep you all posted if I do! :) Brad might hurt me should i! starts all over tomorrow! hopefully we will get some time in to check somethings out around the town! Vacation starts on Sunday after my long long flight home - can't wait!!! YEAH FOR THE BEACH!

I miss everyone so much!!

changing to our blog...

it is amazing that we just thought of this - we have friends out of state, family in southern OH, people whom we don't speak with very often and family moving to NC and sometimes those people check in to see what we are up to - they will want to know about Brad more often - not just me...so this whole change makes sense...while I mention brad - it isn't the same - so he is included now...this is going to be about our life...our travels, our weekends, our news and our fun times...it will be a perfect change...however, I don't see brad writing a lot, maybe he won't want to, he will at least be included!

This weekend, Brad was amazing! I was at home sick with who knows what and Brad played 36 holes on Saturday - he is getting a little better, but not much! He met me at my mom's for dinner and he then came home - helped me do the laundry and then I went to bed...so tired! Sunday morning he got up and took care of the yard - he did everything - watered, cut down, everything - it was so nice of him and I appreciated it so much - I slept all morning trying to get over this stupid summer cold I have. He then washed my car & his...so nice of him - it can't be an easy car to wash! He was so clean today when I drove him to work today and he was so happy to be so clean! Yes, I am talking about the car! :)

So, the change to our blog is the only news I know of to date...maybe more to come. Keep checking back, I am headed to the Kong again on June 20th, so hopefully some more pictures and fun updates from the Kong...then Brad and I are headed to the Cain Cup - I will be sure to post daily results for those of you cheering Brad on...hope he gets the cup back this year...I will be at the beach or pool reading books - goal of 2 for the week!

xoxoxoxox!

weekend in review

last weekend was a crazy one...what a great time hanging out with family and friends though! Friday night we started it out by having sushi with Kevin, Courtney, Cindy and Jared. Well, I had sushi, brad had chicken...always interesting to me - chicken at a sushi place, but it is always good! We then decide to hit the bowling lanes thanks to the Bloech's competive nature...needless to say - we beat them - we might not be able to beat them at video game bowling, but we killed them with the real thing. Go Cain's - chalk up another win! Courtney managed to hit herself with the ball and has a nice bruise now - hope it's getting better lady! Here are some pictures from the evening...

Brad and the ladies...

Me and the boys...

Of Course the can't miss Court and Brad pic...

Proof that Cindy is athletic

Saturday, we spent the day working and getting things done...it was nice...we then hit the driving range so Brad can practice, he isn't so great right now - don't know what his problem is...then we headed to dinner with Scott, Heather and Gracyn...how big she is getting - weigh in at the doctor's this week was 18 pounds...wow - hard to believe that just 6 months ago she graced us with her presence at 7 pounds (I might be a little wrong there, but close enough). Scott and Heather headed to a movie and then we watched the little angel...she is so precious - she screamed like a monkey to let us know she was there and we rocked her and she finally fell asleep and within the bed time frame that Heather provided us. We were a good Aunt and Uncle...I wanted to let her stay up - but she was tired...poor little thing had a long day! :) We had a long day as well - I passed out on the way home and woke up to Brad getting a speeding ticket for 67 in a 45 (and a construction zone) - he got out of it - thanks mr. officer! Don't know how he swung that one!!

Sunday, Kathy and Mark came into town and we had dinner with her side of the family at Blendon Woods. We couldn't have asked for better weather...it was so nice outside. Baby Caroline was there and is getting so very big - it was crazy to see Gracyn the night before and then Caroline the next day - got me excited for Gracyn and where she is going to be in a few months! I can't wait for her to crawl and walk!!! :)

Not much else has been going on - looking forward to relaxing this weekend and cleaning out more of my closets...this should get interesting! :) Hopefully I will be able to make some money! :)

lesson's learned...

going to get a little serious on the holiday weekend...the other day I was driving to work, listening to my IPOD when Carrie Underwood's "Lesson's Learned" song came on...it was interesting to listen to the words and see how easy they were to live by & each day this weekend I have thought about it.

Everyday, you learn something...you apply it to your life....and then the page turns - why -because it should. Not ever does time stand still...you have to embrace what you just learned, what you just went thru and apply and always remember. More importantly, I think all of us at one time in our lives look back and wonder if something would have gone a different way or can't move past something that went on - the song goes on to talk about how thru life there are always things that you wish you could undo, but you can't - bridges you wish you didn't burn - there are always tears that fell and you wondered if you would make it thru the night or the next day for that matter...the past can't be rewritten, live the life you were given. Be grateful for all the breaks in your heart...all the things that break you are what make you strong, you can't change the past - you have to move on - it's all about the lessons learned. Tears fall for everyone, sometimes its hard to embrace the changes that have been thrown your way, but you will be able to get thru it!

It was comforting to think of all the lessons I have learned throughout my life...I wouldn't be an ounce of who I am today without each of them - good and bad. I am thankful for all the breaks in my heart, because they have already made me a better person and I am not letting anyone stand in the way of that! Never did I say I was perfect - who is??? After all, its all pages turned - but lessons were always learned...at times we always want a second chance and sometimes we are given them, but to really impact a second chance you have to live it and not look back - how can you live if you keep looking back.

Just something to think about - I know it was a little rambled...but hey I am not perfect! Someday I just hope that I figure out this thing called life...it gets hard than easy then hard again...looking around - it can't be that bad!!

The reason for the blogging about song lyrics...I have a good friend who is so into music and was always making me listen to lyrics and we would talk about them - always pointing out the best thoughts from song lyrics! The other day after years of not talking with this person I found myself doing that same thing again - this time I just didn't have anyone to talk to them about - so I blogged them! same thing right???

hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend!!!
Happy Anniversary to Cindy and Jared - love you both so much!

week in review...

been awhile since I last blogged...guess the days have gotten away from me! Oh well - what can you do? Here is a quick catch up on my life...





Two weeks ago we had an amazing weekend...it was mother's day weekend. Friday night Brad and I caught up after a long week by grilling steaks and staying in to watch a movie...needless to say it ended up being us in bed by 10pm...we are getting so old! We were traveling down to cincy the next morning, so it was probably a good thing. We headed to the gym to work out and then headed down to Brad's mom's house to have dinner and hang out for a bit. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time. We headed home that evening and got back home around 1030...for the first time ever I stayed awake the whole trip! Normally i sleep most of the way down, but I made it this time! I was so proud! We went to bed shortly after we got home as we had to be at Scotty's by 945 for Gracyn's baby dedication the next day. So here is the good part...Gracyn is hands down the cutest little thing you have ever seen! She feel asleep during her dedication and woke up with the minster took her...so at least she was awake for hers, but slept thru all the other kids! Her name, Gracyn, means pleasant and her middle name Ann, means Grace...perfect fit for her! Makes you think about how a name can impact a person! Love that little girl! She looked so pretty in pink too! She had on a dress that my mom made for her...it was so precious! We had lunch with the Webster's, mom, dad and the Alexanders...then I took a nap while the boys watched golf...

Little Gracyn in her Dedication Dress

That Monday we had our volleyball championships...we came out on top - way to go team! At first i didn't think we could pull it off, but we did! Go team! We won it all! Saturday we attempted to try to beat all the other teams that won their courts and needless to say, we lost - well lost was an understatement! I guess we could have tried a little harder! Those teams were too serious...we laughed a lot and heard the quote of the summer. The team on the court next to us were playing and then we ended up playing the loser of that game...all the guys on the team had their shirts off...keep in mind it was warm, but not that warm...I guess when the sun came out the guns came out...according to the guys on that team..."sun's out - gun's out" was shouted out and all the boys ripped their shirts off! I was on the ground for a long time laughing! Too funny I tell ya!



Here is the fun news from last weekend though - I got new golf clubs, so watch out LPGA...I am a comin! The game is fixed and I am ready to play!



Well, that is about it - looking forward to a long weekend this weekend and being able to relax! More to come and it won't be so long again!



xoxoxoxoxo!

catching up...

been a little bit since the last time i posted anything. trying to see what is new in our lives...not much...we seem to be living a pretty average life these days, with all the hustle from both brad and i's jobs, it has been nice laying low on the weekends and just catching up on things around the house. brad hasn't gotten to play as much golf has he probably had hoped to by this time in the season. most of that at the fault of the weather...stupid rain. we are going to try to get out and play on friday night - hopefully the weather will hold off for us! fingers crossed.

last weekend we started to help mom and everyone else clean out grandpa's house...it was amazing to me how little he had given how long he lived there....i guess he wasn't the pack rat he could have been. trying to think where my mom got this lovely trait of hers! it was sad to see his wood shop with some of his unfinished projects and all of his tools that he loved so much. hopefully he is pounding away up in heaven!

update on small other things...
face cream - i found one and i love it! Arbonne, it's amazing...everyone should try it
black handbag - found one and love it even more than the face cream...someday soon if i come in under my clothing budget for 3 months...the countdown has begun...
sticking to brad's budget - made some massive improvements over previous months...i am proud of myself!
working out - doing a little better, need to improve - going to the gym tonight!

so other than that - i have just been hanging out with brad and not doing anything too crazy!
well, hope everyone has an incredible mother's day and enjoys the weekend.